MONTREAL — The latest concept for light rail service for eastern Montreal involves a ground-level system which, in its initial phase, will serve 22 stations in 21 kilometers (13 miles) of track, the CBC reports.
The proposal by transit agency Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain, or ARTM, is estimated to cost C$10.4 billion. It follows earlier proposals for a largely elevated system, the REM de l’Est, that was dropped by the original proponent, CDPQ Infra, because of negative public response [see “Major changes planned for Montreal light rail project,” Trains News Wire, May 3, 2022]. A subsequent proposal for an all-underground system was considered cost-prohibitive with an estimated price tag of at least C$36 billion. The continuing efforts to develop a system reflect concerns the area is underserved by public transportation.
The proposal calls for stations to be an average of 1,130 meters (approximately seven-tenths of a mile) apart, which would allow trains to reach speeds of 27-31 kilometers per hour, along with two later extensions which would add six additional stations. The route would provide connections to two lines of Montreal’s Metro, and to one line of the Exo commuter rail network.
ARTM has prepared a report on the proposal to present to Quebec Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault; a representative told the CBC Guilbault would wait to see and analyze the report before commenting.
“The continuing efforts to develop a system reflect concerns the area is underserved by public transportation” but “earlier proposals…[were] dropped…because of negative public response.” The people have spoken, now the people must suffer.